FAQs
Answers to all the questions you may have about your visit to AGLOW at Auckland Castle.
General Questions
Auckland Castle’s dazzling new light trail will illuminate the skies of Bishop Auckland this Christmas. AGLOW promises to be one of the most spectacular Christmas light trails in the North East. With seventeen incredible illuminations and some of the largest light installations in the country, AGLOW is a must-see experience for all the family.
A light trail is a family-friendly walk in the park… with a twist! Once the sun has set, follow a curated walk through magnificent parkland and enjoy the beauty of nature in a very different way. Trees and the natural landscape come to life with the help of specialist lighting and spectacular effects. Along the way, you’ll find enchanting installations that use light, sound, sculpture and even fire to craft visual treats that will inspire, delight, entertain and even move you.
22 November – 31 December 2023 (closed Christmas Day).
Entry Times: 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm.
We recommend allowing at least 1.5 hours to complete the trail.
The park will close at 10.00pm each day of opening.
Travel & Parking
AGLOW is at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, approximately 12 miles south of Durham, 13 miles north of Darlington, 25 miles west of Middlesbrough and 30 miles south of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Search for postcode DL14 7NR.
You can get here easily by car, train or bus. Parking is readily available in Bishop Auckland, by train, you can quickly access Bishop Auckland from Durham, York, Newcastle and more, and bus routes provide easy access around the region. For more information, visit our ‘Plan your visit’ page.
Car parking is available at North Bondgate car park and is free. If using a sat nav, the postcode is DL14 7PG. There are electric car charging points in North Bondgate car park.
Your Visit
We recommend allowing an hour and a half to complete the trail and enjoy the route along the way!
AGLOW is suitable for all the family, with dazzling illuminations to wow all ages.
The trail length is around 1.5 miles, so bear this in mind for very small children. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult (18+).
This is an outdoor light trail without any cover along the route, so please dress for the weather. We strongly advise that you come wrapped up in warm and waterproof clothing. The pathways along the route can be a little uneven in places, so we recommend wearing sturdy shoes too.
Umbrellas are permitted on the trail if the weather is poor, so feel free to bring them if you need to. To create the right atmosphere for the trail, there are areas that will be dimly lit, so feel free to bring along a torch.
We would love you to take as many photographs as you like! Any shots you take and want to post on social media, please remember to tag us using the hashtag #AucklandAglow
Dogs are permitted on the trail, however please keep them on a lead, and as per the usual etiquette of dog ownership, come prepared to clean up after them. Anyone found to have not cleared up their dog’s mess or found to be disregarding the dogs kept on leads rule may be asked to leave the trail immediately without refund.
There will not be any strobe lighting on the trail, however, there will be some flashing lights within the design of the trail. As such, we can’t guarantee that the trail will be suitable for those with photosensitive epilepsy. If you would like further information, please contact us.
It may become necessary to close the trail if the weather makes it unsafe. If we do have to do this, the decision will be made as early as possible so that we can let people know before they arrive. If we do have to cancel, we will inform you of the best way to proceed with your purchased ticket.
There will be plenty of tasty seasonal fare available on-site. At the start of the trail, there will be the opportunity to buy food and drink, with further points along the trail including Santa’s village. A range of hot and cold food and drink options will be available, and we cater for all dietary requirements including vegan and gluten free.
Please note, we only accept card payments.
Access & Accessibility
Pushchairs are permitted, but please be aware that the pathways along the route may not be the easiest surface to push them along.
Sadly, due to the topography of the site and the uneven terrain isn’t possible to make the trail fully accessible.
Sadly, due to the topography of the site and the uneven terrain, the route isn’t suitable for mobility scooters.
Tickets & Booking
Tickets are available to purchase online here.
We strongly recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
You will receive a downloadable e-ticket in your booking confirmation email, or by logging into your order via DigiTickets
It’s possible that the email has gone into your spam/junk mailbox, so please check in there. If you still can’t find it, please log in to your Digi Tickets account where you can download your tickets directly from there.
We know that life doesn’t always go to plan, so if you’re running late, we’ll do our best to accommodate you in a later slot. However, we can’t guarantee that this will be possible in all cases.
Sadly, in accordance with our booking terms and conditions, once purchased we are unable to exchange or refund tickets. Please ensure you have selected the correct date and time before confirming your booking. If you need assistance in booking the correct slot, please feel free to come and see us at our on-site box office.
Still have questions?
If you can’t find the answer to your question, please complete the form below and we’ll get back to you just as soon as we can. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].
